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Interior Minister Aryeh Deri should be charged with fraud, Israeli police say

He was previously sentenced to three years in prison for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in 2000 during his previous stint in the role in the 1990s.
Image: Israel's Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, attends a meeting at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem
Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri is the leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party.Ammar Awad / Reuters file
By Associated Press

JERUSALEM — Israeli police are recommending charges be brought against the country's interior minister in a major corruption case.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Tuesday there is "evidentiary basis" against Aryeh Deri that he committed fraud and breach of trust, as well as for the commission of millions of shekels in tax offenses, money laundering and the disruption of court proceedings.

Police have questioned Deri and his wife on suspicion of receiving illicit payments from businessmen. They deny any crimes were committed.

Deri was previously sentenced to three years in prison for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in 2000 during his previous stint as interior minister in the 1990s.

He served 22 months in prison but made a political comeback and retook the reins of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party in 2013.